Elliston Place Soda Shop
American restaurant · Elliston Place
2105 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203
Highlights
Classic diner serving shakes, meat-and-threes & pies
Classic diner serving shakes, meat-and-threes & pies
"Elliston is the grand dame of meat and threes—it’s been doling out Southern sides with heavy-hitting protein mains since 1939. It’s the kind of place where you can still find sodas made with phosphates and milkshakes mixed with malt. Everyone from corporate office workers to cops working the local beat post up on the vinyl seats for plates of meatloaf, fried chicken, or one of the specials of the day. On the side: your choice of two or three home-cooked sides like turnip greens, creamed corn, and mac and cheese to go with one of Elliston’s moist buttermilk biscuits. And leaving without a slice of coconut merengue pie is downright criminal." - jackie gutierrez jones 2
"This Nashville classic has been serving diner-style breakfasts and meat-and-three lunches and dinners since 1939. The shop leans hard into the nostalgia, but resists feeling like theme park—construction workers, police officers, and office workers are all posted up on the vinyl seats waiting for their first coffee of the day. The breakfast options are simple, but done well: the buttermilk biscuits are moist, the pepper gravy flavorful, and the creamy cheese grits will satisfy even the most discerning porridge enthusiasts. If you’ve got a little space left after all those carbs, the shop does still indeed serve up old-timey sodas (with phosphates!) and milkshakes (with malt!). There’s also a case of meringue-topped pies made daily by the resident pie lady, and you should absolutely get a slice on your way out." - bailey freeman, ann walczak
"The Soda Shop has been a family favorite for over 80 years, serving classic Nashville meat-and-three fare, burgers and fries, and ice cream treats from its soda counter. Fried chicken, mac and cheese, whipped potatoes with gravy, and squash casserole are the perfect precursor to a banana split, or, perhaps, a slice of Mis Linda’s toasted coconut merengue pie. Pick some songs on the jukebox and plop into the welcoming red leather booths for a true Nashville experience." - Ellen Fort
"While the Soda Shop is equally known for its meat and three dishes, it has something that other restaurants of the genre do not: Linda Melton’s toasted coconut meringue pies. Linda has been a waitress and the “pie lady” for over 30 years at the restaurant, which got its start in the 1930s. During her time, her pies topped with towering, fluffy meringue and sprinkled with toasted sweet coconut have earned their own place in the canon of Music City. The late Jimmy Buffet counted it as one of his favorites, and often stopped in for a slice when he lived in the neighborhood. You probably should, too, and grab a milkshake while you’re at it." - Ellen Fort
"This Nashville classic has been serving diner-style breakfasts and meat-and-three lunches and dinners since 1939. The shop leans hard into the nostalgia, but resists feeling like theme park—construction workers, police officers, and office workers are all posted up on the vinyl seats waiting for their first coffee of the day. The breakfast options are simple, but done well: the buttermilk biscuits are moist, the pepper gravy flavorful, and the creamy cheese grits will satisfy even the most discerning porridge enthusiasts. If you’ve got a little space left after all those carbs, the shop does still indeed serve up old-timey sodas (with phosphates!) and milkshakes (with malt!). There’s also a case of meringue-topped pies made daily by the resident pie lady, and you should absolutely get a slice on your way out." - Bailey Freeman
